Apparatus for wrappering books



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APPARATUS FOR WRAPPERING BOOKS Filed May 18, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN V: AIITO'R we. klxwlemzy Patented June 15, 1954 APPARATUS FOR VJRAPPERING BOOKS Peter Crawford Girdlestone, Lansdown, Bath,

England, assignor to Altus Engineering Company (Corsham) Limited, Corsham, England,

a British company Application May 18, 1950, Serial No. 162,682

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for and methods of wrappering books.

The term wrapper includes all flexible covers for books, e. g., paper, cloth and rexine covers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new method of and apparatus for squaring the backs of wrappered books.

According to this invention a wrappered book has its back squared in a wrappering machine by being allowed to fall, back downwards, onto a flat surface a number of times.

This may be done by allowing the book to fall, back downwards onto an oscillating platform. By oscillating platform is meant a platform partaking of an oscillating movement and by oscillating movement is meant a movement along and up simultaneously, followed by a movement back and down simultaneously. The wrappered book will move along and up with the platform but will be left in the air when the platform moves back and down, and will therefore fall back downwards, onto the platform again though it will have moved along the platform.

The invention will be more clearly understood Figure 4 is a side view of the chute for the unwrappered books;

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the laterally movable platform, Figure 5 being a view in the direction of arrow V of Figure 6 and Figure 6 being a section on the lines VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figures '7 and 8 illustrate the oscillating platform that squares the book backs, Figru'e '7 being a section on the l ne VIIVII of Figure 8, and Figure -8 being a view taken in the direction of arrow VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section on the line IXIX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows the wrapper feed, and

Figure 11 is a section through the gear box for the machine.

In order that the individual parts of the machine shown in Figures 2-11 shall be more clearly understood, the general arrangement of the wrappering machine and its operation will be first described with reference to Figure 1,

Referring to this figure, the framework of the machine supports side [2 of the chute by means of which the unwrappered books are introduced into the machine. The other side 39 of the chute is slidably arranged on an inverted V slide on one side and a flat slide on the other shown at I42 of Figure 8. Clamp I43 is rovided in order that the side 39 may be clamped in the desired position. Movement of side 39 towards and away from side [2 is effected by spiral wheel 33 which engages spiral wheel 34 on shaft 35. The threaded portion on shaft 35 engages with the threaded lug 36 secured to the framework and the head 38A of shaft 35 contacts lug 38 secured to side 39.

The wrappers are conveyed around the machine by means of a pair of chains l4. Chains [4 are intermittently driven through sprocket IS on shaft 33 and pass around sprockets I6, I! and I8. Sprockets l8 are mounted in bearings in blocks Mil slidably mounted in guides Ml. Blocks Ml] may be adjusted laterally by operation of handwheel l9- secured to threaded shaft I45 from which a similar shaft is driven on the other side of the machine through sprocket and chain drive. Similarly, sprockets I! are mounted in bearings in blocks slidably arranged in guides 2|. Blocks 2!? are urged towards the left, as shown in Figure 1, by the action of springs 22, thus keeping the chains 44 taut.

Immediately beneath chute I2, 39 are a pair of continuously driven rubber covered rollers 27, 28 and beneath these rollers is a second chute 29. At the bottom of chute 23 is a rocking platform 3!]. Rubber covered roller 28 and side 40 of chute 29 are mounted on side 39 and move with it.

Reference numeral 23 designates an adhesive applying roller driven through gears from the shaft on which sprockets l! are carried. Adhesive applying roller 23 contacts the surface of roller 24 which dips into the adhesive bath which can be heated. Rollers 23, 24 and bath 25 are mounted in a housing carried on blocks 20.

Reference numeral 13 designates the feed for the wrappers while the conveyor for removing the wrappered books is shown at 3|, this conveyor 3i being driven by means of crank 32, con necting rod 32A and a ratchet and pawl on the end of the conveyor shaft 32B.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Unwrappered books are fed one at a time into chute I2, 39 by means of a conveyor of any suitable type. Each book falls down the chute I2, 39 until further progress is prevented by the stop 3 26 pivoted to side l2. Meanwhile, a wrapper is fed by feed 13 into the machine. At this time, the chains I4 are stationary and the wrapper is fed into jaws (not shown in Figure 1) carried by chains I i, which jaws thereupon close. The chains l4 then move in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 with the wrapper between the jaws. The chains stop with the jaws just short of adhesive roller 23. On restarting, the wrapper is carried past adhesive applying roller 23 which applies a coat of adhesive to the lower side of the wrapper. The wrapper is carried by the chains until it lie under chute I2, 33 when the chains I6 again stop. The jaws are opened and the wrapper then rests on a platform immediately below chute i2, 39 with the coat of adhesive upwards. This platform is not shown in Figurel but will be described in detail hereafter. When the wrapper is in position on the platform, stop 25 falls causing the unwrappered book, which is back lowermost in the chute, to fall centrally on to the wrapper, thereby squaring the back of the unwrappered book. The platform is moved sharply sideways from under the wrapper and the book and wrapper fall between rollers 21, 28

which press the wrapper to the sides of the book and then through chute 29 on to rocking platform 30. The action of oscillating platform 33 is to square the back' of the wrappered book and to move the book out sideways from the machine on to conveyor 3!.

In order that the machine may accommodate varying widths of books, side 39 is laterally adjustable with respect to side i2 as above described and as rubber covered roller 28 and side 49 are mounted on side 39 the distance between rollers 21 and 23, and the width of chute Z9 is also automatically adjusted for the width of book.

When it is desired to wrapper a book having a different length of side, it is necessary to change the point in the chain circuit at which the jaws stop and open and deposit the wrapper on to the platform. This adjustment is effected by altering the position of sprockets [8 by operation of handwheel I9.

The wrapper is always registered in the feeder against a fixed side. Similarly, the books are registered against the fixed end of the input chute 12. The books are kept against the fixed end by the guide Me which is adjustable laterally by means of clamp [d1 gripping the fixed shaft 1 18.

Figures 2 and 3 show the jaws mounted on the chains I4. Two rods ll, 42 are carried between the two chains l4. which has at regular intervals along its length a number of nibs M which can contact the fiat face of rod 42. Springs it carried on sleeve 43 urge sleeve 53 into the position in which nib 44 contacts fiat 45 (the closed position of the jaws). Sleeve 33 has secured to it lever 48 on which is mounted a roller 41. Pressure applied to the roller 41 in the direction towards the chains M rotates sleeve 43 and forces the jaws into the open position, shown dotted in Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates in further detail the chute i2, 39 of Figure l. The stop 25 is carried on shaft 49 which also carries lever 50 which in turn carries roller 5!. Roller 51 engages the surface of cam 52. Normally the contact between roller 5! and cam 52 maintains the stop 26 across the chute i2, 39 as shown. However, stop 28 is permitted to drop when the cut away portion 53 of cam 52 is opposite the roller 5!. Cam 52 rotates continuously.

Rod 41 carries sleeve 43 4 Above the stop 25 is a finger 54 which is secured to member 55 pivoted to the side I2 of the chute at 55. Projection 51 of member 55 carries pin 58 with roller 53A which runs on cam 59. As shown, cam 59 has a cut-away portion 60 into which roller 58A can drop on rotation of cam 59. Normally, finger 54 is held out of chute I2, 39 but, as roller 58A falls into portion 60 of cam 59, finger 54 is urged momentarily into the chute. This occurs immediately prior to the falling of stop 26 and if there is a book in the chute on the stop 26, movement of finger 54 into the chute lZis prevented. However, if through some fault of the supply, no book is in the chute, finger 54 enters the chute and this movement operates a mercury switch 55A which stops the motor of the machine, thus preventing more wrappers being supplied to the machine.

The platform beneath chute I2 is shown at 6| in Figures 5 and 6. One end of platform 6| is'pivoted-at fulcrum 62 tolever 63 which, at'its lower end, has two arms 6d, pivoted by means of fulcrum 56 to the framework. Th-B-J0th6l end of platform 61 carries rollers 61 which roll in slots 58 in the main frame. Lever 63 carries roller 65 which contactscontinuously driven cam 19. VOnrotation of cam 15?, roller 59 is forced sharply laterally against the action of spring 8| causing lever 83 to pivot about fulcrums 66 resulting in. the movement of platform .to theright from the position shown in Figure 5. In effect, the platform 6| is drawn away from under the wrapper and book previously lying thereon. Cam 10 is carriedon shaft 11; this shaft 1| also car'- ries; a second cam 12 which contacts roller 13 carried at the lowerend' of shaft 14. Shaft 14 runs in sleeve 19 which is firmly attached to the main frame at 15 to give a longer bearing to shaft 14. Shaft 14 carries at its upper end bar 16; lying above the chain l4 carrying roller 41. Shaft 14 is urged downwardly by compression spring "located between shoulder 18 of sleeve 13 and collar 88 attached to shaft 14. On rotation of cam 12, roller 13 and shaft 14 are alternately held up and allowed to drop under the action of spring 11. When shaft 14 falls, the level of .bar .16 is lowered so, that it forces roller 41 downwards, opens the jaws and releases the wrapper being carried over platform 6| between chains l4. Cam 12 is so arranged that the wrapper is released after cam 52 has released stop 26 (Figure l) so that a book falls on the wrapper. The withdrawal of platform 6| from under chute I2, 39 is then caused by cam 13 so that the book. and wrapper is allowed to drop between the rolls 21 and 28 (Figure 1). Relative adjustment of cams 10, 12 is enabled by the provision of conicalxclutch .i5i3which is locked by nut I51. -Reverting to Figure 1, it willbe seen that operation of hand-wheel I9 alters the position of sprockets l8 with respect to sprocket I 5, and hence th position of the jaws with respect to chute I2, 39 when they are opened by operation of bar 16. This adjustment is provided in order that wrappers of various lengths can be deposited (as a result of the opening of the jaws by the bar 16) on platform 61 centrally under chute |'2," 39."* V

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate-in more detail the rocking platform 3!! at the :bottom of chute 29. This platform 30 is carriedby four links 82, 83, 84, 85 oscillating at their. top ends about twofixed fulcrums 8B, 81, and pivoted to platform. 30 on pivots 88, B9. Attached pivotally to the nd of platform 30 is a further link 90 connected to a crank or eccentric 9I. Crank or eccentric 9I is driven by bevels 92 and gear train 93, 94 from driving shaft I33. Pressure rollers 21, 28 are driven by chain 96 which in turn is driven by sprocket 91. The chain 96 also passes round 91A which is a tensioning sprocket and 91B which is an idler sprocket.

The position of links 82, 83, 84, 85, the throw of eccentric 9! and the speed of rotation of the eccentric 9| are so adjusted that the oscillating platform 39 moves forward and up, thereby throwing the wrappered book forward and up.

While the book is still in the air, oscillating platform 39 moves back and down to its original position and the wrappered book is thus moved forward and falls again onto platform 39 thereby squaring up the back of the book. The back is kept upright, so that it falls back downward, by the parallel spaced walls of the chute 29. The wrappered book is passed out by the action of platform 39 through the side of the machine and is deflected by guide 98 at the end of one wall of the chute which tips the wrapped book over the stripper I99 on to the conveyor 3I (see Figure 9). The stripper I99 prevents the back of the book being bounced at an angle during the latter part of its movement along platform 39 and guides the book clear from platform 39 in preparation for the following book. Conveyor 3! moves, per book, a distance greater than the width of a book and less than the length of book, e. g. at about one to one and half inches per book; the books are thus stacked in echelon, that is to say in a saw tooth arrangement in which the spine of each book has its successor resting upon it.

Conveyor 3I is made up of a series of one inch wide belts IIlI with one inch gaps between them. This construction nables the operator to pass his fingers between the belts and to withdraw a pile of the wrappered books which, because they overlap one another as described above, can easily be slid together.

Figure illustrates the feed for the wrappers. This feed is of known form and, per se, forms no part of the present invention. The pile of wrappers is shown at I92, the front edges of the pile lying under the fingers I93. Rubber covered bar I94 is carried on bars I95 in the lower ends of which are mounted rollers running on continuously rotating cams I99. The upper ends of bars I95 have slots I91 in which engage pins I98. Thus, bars I95 and rubber covered bar I94 move upwards and downwards and alternately engage and disengage the top member of the pile I92. The second rubber covered bar I99 is supported on bars I I9. Bars I I9 are mounted and driven so that they first come downwardly until the rubber covered bar I99 engages the top member of the pile I92, move laterally away from fingers I 93 and then move forward towards the fingers and upwards disengaging with the top member of the pile. Lastly, bars II9 return to their original position. The operation of this known form of feed is as follows; firstly, bar I94 descends and contacts the wrapper; secondly, bar I99 descends, contacts the top wrapper and moves it away from fingers I93. Bar I04 lifts and bar I 99 moves forward sliding the top wrapper over the top of the fingers into the jaws between ll and 42, which close, and, on ascent of the bar I 99 the wrapper is removed by the movement of chain I4.

Plate III has mounted on it a fulcrum H3 and a stop II2. On fulcrum H3 is rotatably mounted cam II4. Pivoted to cam H4 is the rod [I5 which passes through collar I IS on plate I I I. As bars II9 move towards fingers I93, the pusher I I! secured thereto contacts rod II5 and urges it forward. Cam II 4 has a flat surface II8 with which the roller 4'! engages. Movement of rod II5 withdraws the camv from contact with roller 41 and enables roller 4'! to spring back into its normal closed position which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 10.

The operation of this part of the machine is as follows:

The chains I4 stop with jaws 4|, 42 in the position shown, 1. e., just past fingers I93. The roller 4'! engages surface IIS of cam H4 thus opening the jaws into which the leading edge of the wrapper is forced by the action of bars I94, I99 described above. Movement of bars I I9 operates rod II5, moving cam H4 and thereby enabling the jaws to close with the wrapper therebetween. The chains I4 then start to move and take away the wrapper towards the adhesive applying roller 23. Cam H9 is urged in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figure 10 by spring H9 and so returns to its original position on backward movement of bars H9 resting against stop I I2 after the chains I4 have moved on.

Figure 11 illustrates the gear box of the machine. Shaft I29 is driven from an electric motor (not shown) through cone pulleys (not shown) to provide variable speed. Shaft I29 carries worm I2I driving a worm wheel I22 on shaft I23. Keyed to worm-wheel shaft I23 is the drive I24 of a conventional Geneva motion mechanism. Of this mechanism, only drive I24 and driven wheel I25 is shown. This wheel I25 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) and carries spur wheel I28. Spur wheel I28 drives spur I29 keyed to shaft I39 (see Figure 1). Also keyed to shaft I 39 are the sprockets I5 which drive the chains I4 (see Figure 1). Thus, the chains I4 are discontinuously driven by virtue of the Geneva motion.

Continuously driven shaft I23 also carries keyed to it spur wheel I3I driving spur I32 keyed to shaft I 33. Keyed to shaft I33 is gear wheel 94 which drives rocking platform 39 as above de scribed. Also keyed to shaft I33 is sprocket I34 which drives, through a chain and sprocket wheel, shaft 53A carrying cams 52 and 59 (Figure 4). Also keyed to shaft I33 is spur 94A which drives spur wheel I IA mounted on shaft II (Figures 5, 6 and 7).

Mounted freely on continuously rotating shaft I23 is chain sprocket I35. This sprocket I35 may be driven by shaft I23 through a dog clutch I36 which is urged into engagement by spring I31 but may be held out of engagement by rod I 38. It will be seen that the dog clutch I36 is single toothed; this ensures that when the clutch is engaged, the feed of the wrappers will be synchronous with the movement of the jaws.

I claim:

1. Book wrappering machine, comprising a pair of spaced parallel walls to provide a chute through which wrappered books are delivered back downwards, an oscillatable platform having a horizontal upper surface located below said chute to receive books delivered therefrom, guide means for said platform to guide it during oscillation so that each part of said platform describes the arc of a circle and the upper surface is kept horizontal, and means to oscillate said platform, whereby in operation, books are received from said chute on said platform and have ;their-;-backs squared by, being thrown up. and

v t ,2. Book wrappering machine, comprising a pair of spaced parallel walls to provide a chute through which wrappered books are delivered back downwards, a platform located below said chute to receive books delivered therefrom, swing links on which said platform is mounted, so that said platform can be oscillated in parallel mo tion, each part of said platform describing an arc of a circle, and means to oscillate said platform.

3. Book wrappering machine according to claim 2, wherein said means comprisesan eccentric, a connecting rod between said eccentric and said platform and means to rotate said eccentric.

References Cited in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 936,480 Sague Oct. 12;"1909 1,116,946 Spiess Nov. 10', 1914 1,205,023 Roberts Nov; 14, 1916 1,252,879 Bredenberg Jan. 8, 1918 1,615,194 Swab Jan. 18', 1927 2,163,812 Schramm June 27, 1939 2,599,666 Surridge June 10, 1952 

